Where is Shanghai Located, Shanghai's Location in China and the World Home >> Shanghai Facts >> Where is Shanghai Where is Shanghai Shanghai is situated at 31°41' north latitude and 121°29' east longitude. The city, whose name literally means "on the sea", is located on the east China coast just to the south of the mouth of the Yangtze river. Bordering on Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces on the west, Shanghai is washed by the East China Sea on the east and Hangzhou Bay on the south. it also occupies a central location along China's coastline. Thanks to its advantageous geographic location, Shanghai is an excellent sea and river port, boasting easy access to the vast hinterland. Natural Resource Shanghai storage and production of coal, oil and water; energy required depends on the support of the other provinces and cities. However, Shanghai has a certain quantity and high quality of "secondary energy" production; the main products are electricity, oil, oil products, coal and gas (including liquefied petroleum gas). Others can take advantage of development of energy and biogas, wind energy, tidal and solar power.

Shanghai neighboring with the East China Sea, is rich in fishery resources, according to statistics, there are various fish of 108, economic fish over more than 20 of them in Shanghai. In addition, Shanghai is located in the mouth of Yangtze River, the River is wide and intersection of sea and fresh water, as well as natural lakes rivers, abundant of snails and oyster are span on the river bottom, it provides a good conditions for freshwater aquaculture. Shanghai Developments The bridges connected Pudong and Puxi marks the development of construction process and also creative a foundation for common prosperity for both sides of the Huangpu River . In 1971, Songpu Bridge was completed, it rewriting the history of no bridge on Huangpu River before, on December 1st, 1991, the second bridge - Nanpu Bridge was open to the public, in October 1993, the Yangpu bridge was completed, until now, there are 6 bridges was build crossing over Huangpu River.

While in September 1970, Dapulu Tunnel is completed, the development of river channels makes significant changes of the financial trade zone-Lujiazui which is located n the city center. In November 1994, the Oriental Pearl TV Tower was completed, on March 18, 1999, Jin Mao Tower officially open for business. In 2008, China's tallest building-Shanghai World Financial center was opened for public. The same year, the Central Building is under planning, it is expected to become the new tallest building in China. In 2010, the World Expo was opened in Shanghai. In addition, there are different kinds of exhibition held in Shanghai every year. Exhibition industry is become one of an important industry in Shanghai. In the Map of China which publish in 1949, Shanghai area occupies for 636 square kilometers.

In 1958, 10 cities in Jiangsu Province: Jiading, Baoshan, Songjiang, Jinshan, Nanhui, Fengxian, Qingpu, Chuansha, and Chongming are classify as Shanghai, Shanghai municipal districts range up to 5,910 square kilometers. To the end of 2003, Shanghai area is up to 6340.5 square kilometers. The three island of Chongming, Changxing and Hengsha is all jurisdictions by Shanghai, Chongming Island , which covers more than 1000 square kilometers, is now regarding as the third largest island in China. Shipping Shanghai Port has develop to 16 international container liner routes; the container shipping number has reached to 1,967 per month, of which 942 are international ships. International Ocean Routes: the ships from Shanghai port will be arrival in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Korea, Japan, Asia Countries, Australia, Israel and the Eastern Mediterranean, North West Europe, South Africa, South America, and West Coast of United States.

Coastal Route: Can be reach to the major ports along the coast in the city from North; Yangtze River Route: can reach the river ports of middle and down stream of Yangtze River. River Trade Routes: Can be reach to the river ports of eastern part of costal cities by Jiangnan water network. Port of Shanghai - Ship Technology Port of Shanghai Deepsea Port and River Port Port Area Total Births Used by SIPG 125 Due to insufficient water depth at the Port of Shanghai mainland, Yangshan Deepwater Port is being developed in four phases. Phase I and II are already complete. Port of Shanghai, China The Port of Shanghai is the busiest port in the world in terms of cargo tonnage and comprises a deep-sea port and a river port. Located in Shanghai, China, the port covers an area of 3,619.6km² at the mouth of the Yangtze River. The port is considered the world's fastest-growing economy. Port of Shanghai background The Port of Shanghai, which originally existed as Shen or Hudu between the fifth and seventh centuries AD, was given official city status in 1297 by the Yuan Dynasty.

In 1684, ocean-going vessels were allowed to use the port courtesy of the Quing Dynasty, which helped the port to collect customs duty for all foreign trade and by 1735 it became the most significant seaport in the Yangtze region. "The Port of Shanghai was given official city status in 1297 by the Yuan Dynasty." In 1842 the port opened for international trade and became a treaty port under the Treaty of Nanjing. It became more approachable when foreign countries were relieved of local rules and regulations after the Treaty of the Bogue in 1843 and the Sino-American Treaty of Wangsai in 1844. After the Second Sino-Japanese War, the Japanese became an important community and established the port's first factory. The port came under the control of China in 1949, a development that dramatically slowed down the foreign trade at the port. The port enjoyed economic and building booms when it was permitted to implement economic reforms in 1991 by the central government. Shanghai International Port Group The Shanghai International Port Group (SIPG) is the sole authoritarian body that manages the public terminals in the port.

The SIPG, a public listed company, came into existence in 2003 following the reorganisation of the Shanghai Port Authority. The major shareholders of the company are Shanghai Municipal Government (44.23%), China Merchants International Terminals (26.54%) and Shanghai Tongsheng Investment Group Corporation (16.81%). SIPG handles domestic, national and international cargo transportation. It is also responsible for maintaining, manufacturing and leasing containers, as well as building, managing and operating the port facilities. Out of the 125 berths that SIPG operates 82 can accommodate 10,000dwt class or higher vessels. As well as public bulk, breakbulk, specialised ro-ro terminal and cruise terminal, the company owns 5,143 units of cargo handling equipment. Port terminals Wusongkou, Waigaoqiao and Yangshan are the three main container port areas of the Port of Shanghai. The Wusongkou area is managed by Shanghai Container Terminals Company (SCT), a joint venture of Hutchison Port Holdings Limited (HPH) and SIPG.

Zhanghuabang Terminal, Jungong Road Terminal and Baoshan Terminal are the three container terminals operated by SCT. The facilities provided by the company include: container cleaning and management, storage and transport, inland goods storage and electronic data interchange. "SIPG is the sole authoritarian body that manages the public terminals at the Port of Shanghai." The Waigaoqiao area is operated by Shanghai Pudong International Container Terminals, SIPG Zhendong Container Terminal Branch, Shanghai East Container Terminal Company and Shanghai Mingdong Container Terminals Limited. Shanghai Pudong operates in a 500,000m² area and has 147 container handling equipment and machinery, 36 RTG, ten quay cranes, 73 container trucks and 11 forklifts. Shanghai Mingdong facilitates container handling, storage and transfer. Other works carried out by the company include maintaining, cleaning and stripping of containers. Shanghai Shengdong International Container Terminal Company is responsible for operating Yangshan Deepwater Port. The port's activities are carried out by 34 container quay cranes and 120 RTG. The terminal can handle containerised cargo of 2.2m TEU.

The port is also facilitated by non-container terminals located on the Huangpu River. These terminals act as distribution centres for the remote areas of the port and contribute in the financial development of Yangtze River Valley. Shanghai throughput In 2006, the Port of Shanghai became the world's third-largest container port when it achieved a container throughput of 21.71m TEU. In 2006 it handled 537 million tonnes of cargo, which was 21.1% higher than the previous year's figure. Total throughput for 2007, including 560 million tonnes of cargo, was over 26 million TEU. In 2008, the port handled 582 million tonnes of cargo and 28 million TEU, increases of 3.2% and 7%, respectively, over the previous year. In 2008, the port handled nearly 62,000 domestic and international ships. Cargo throughput registered by the port in 2009 was 590 million tonnes.

Port expansion "Cargo throughput at the Port of Shanghai in 2009 was 590 million tonnes." Due to insufficient water depth at the port's mainland, Yangshan Deepwater Port is being developed in four phases. This deepwater port, which is located in the East China Sea, is 30km from the mainland and a 32.5km long bridge connects it to the mainland. Phase I terminal, which was opened in December 2005, was completed at an investment of $7.5bn. The terminal operates at a water depth of 16m and has five births. In the first year of its construction, the terminal handled 3.1 million TEU. Phase II of the terminal was built with an investment of $7bn and opened for operation in December 2006. The terminal, which is capable of handling 2.1 million TEU, uses four berths. Phase III and IV are expected to be completed by 2010 and 2012, respectively. By 2012, the deepwater port will have 30 births and will be capable of handling 15 million TEU.

Share Yangtze River Facts: Length, Port Cities, Dam Project with Photos Water System Map (Click the map to enlarge it) The Yangtze water network covers about 1,800,000 square km (694,983 square miles), accounting for 18.8% of the land area in China. The upper stream is between Yibin City in Sichuan Province and Yichang City in Hubei Province. It is also called Chuan River because most parts flows through Sichuan Province. The river in this section has many shoals and rapids. The famous scenic sight "Three Gorges" is located here. The middle stream starts from Yichang City to Jiujiang City in Jiangxi Province. The river system is highly developed in the area. Many lakes are scattered around. The section between Yidu City in Hubei Province and Chenglingji Harbor in Yueyang City in Hunan Province is called Jingjiang because it passes the ancient Jingzhou area. The down stream refers to the main river section between Jiujiang and Shanghai. Originally, "Yangtze" was the name of this section due to the ancient Yangzijin Ferry in the area.

Yangtze River has numerous tributaries, merging into the river and forming great water source to it. There are 49 tributaries whose basin area surpasses 10,000 square km (3,861 square miles). The main ones are Hanjiang, Yalongjiang, Minjiang, Jialingjiang, Wujiang, Xiangjiang, Yuanjiang and Ganjiang. The famous Huangpu River in Shanghai, not as large as the former ones although, is also a tributary of the Yangtze River. Big lakes in the Yangtze Basin include Dongting Lake , Poyang Lake , Taihu Lake , Liangzi Lake, Chaohu Lake and Honghu Lake. Irrigation Projects The earliest irrigation project on Yangtze River is Dujiangyan Irrigation Project . Located on Minjiang, west to Chengdu City, it is the oldest and existing no-dam irrigation system in the world. Gezhouba Dam, Yichang In 1988, the construction of the first big dam on the river - Gezhouba Dam was finished. It creates the effects of generating electricity and improving the gorge river channel.

In 2009, another big dam - the Three Gorges Dam was completed. Located near Sandouping Town in Yichang City, Hubei Province, it is the largest hydropower project, the most efficient dam in flood control and the largest migration project in the world. The two dams together produce a marked effect to the power generation, flood control, navigation and tourism in the middle and upper reaches of the river. Crossings Before the founding of People's Republic of China, the transportation across the Yangtze River reckoned only on the ferry which brought much inconvenience. In 1957, the first big bridge across the river – Wuhan Yangtze River Bridge was completed and opened to traffic. Later many big bridges both on the main streams and the branches of the river were constructed, including the famous ones in Chongqing, Wuhan, Jiujiang, Nanjing and Shanghai etc. Now there are hundreds of bridges on the Yangtze. On Dec.28 2008, Wuhan Yangtze River Crossing Tunnel was opened to traffic. Shanghai Yangtze River Tunnel has been in operation since Oct. 31 2009.

Yangtze River | river, China | Britannica.com Yangtze River Alternative Titles: Ch’ang Chiang, Chang Jiang, Da Jiang Related Topics Nanjing Yangtze River, Chinese (Pinyin) Chang Jiang or (Wade-Giles romanization) Ch’ang Chiang , longest river in both China and Asia and the third longest river in the world, with a length of 3,915 miles (6,300 kilometres). Its basin, extending for some 2,000 miles (3,200 km) from west to east and for more than 600 miles (1,000 km) from north to south, drains an area of 698,265 square miles (1,808,500 square km). From its source on the Plateau of Tibet to its mouth on the East China Sea , the river traverses or serves as the border between 10 provinces or regions. More than three-fourths of the river’s course runs through mountains. The Yangtze has eight principal tributaries.

On its left bank, from source to mouth, these are the Yalung, Min, Jialing , and Han rivers; those on the right bank include the Wu, Yuan, Xiang, and Gan rivers. The Huang He basin and the Yangtze River basin and their drainage networks. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Bend in the upper Yangtze River (Chang Jiang), Yunnan province, southwestern China. Long Hongtao—Xinhua/Corbis The name Yangtze—derived from the name of the ancient fiefdom of Yang—has been applied to the river mainly by those in the West. Chang Jiang (“Long River”) is the name used in China, although it also is called Da Jiang (“Great River”) or, simply, Jiang (“[The] River”). The Yangtze is the most important river of China. It is the country’s principal waterway, and its basin is China’s great granary and contains nearly one-third of the national population.

Physical features The upper course The upper course of the Yangtze flows across the Plateau of Tibet and descends through deep valleys in the mountains east of the plateau, emerging onto the Yunnan-Guizhou (Yungui) Plateau. Summers there are warm, and the winters are cold. The source of the Yangtze is the Ulan Moron (Wulanmulun) River, which originates in glacial meltwaters on the slopes of the Tanggula Mountains in southern Qinghai province on the border with the Tibet Autonomous Region. From the confluence of this stream with several others, the river flows generally easterly through a shallow, spacious valley, the bottom of which is studded with lakes and small reservoirs. This part of its course lies in the higher regions of the Tibetan highlands. First bend of the Yangtze River, Yunnan province, China. Bruno Morandi—age fotostock/Imagestate Jordan River The river’s character changes sharply upon reaching the eastern limits of the highlands.

There the river—which in this stretch is called the Jinsha—descends from a high elevation, winding its way south of the high Bayan Har Mountains and forming a narrow valley up to 2 miles (3 km) in depth. Individual mountain peaks exceed elevations of 16,000 feet (4,900 metres) above sea level and are crowned with glaciers and perpetual snow. The steep, rocky slopes are cut with gorges and deep valleys. For several hundred miles the Yangtze flows in a southeasterly direction, before turning south to flow downward in rushing rapids. For a considerable distance the river flows through passes that are so steep that no room is left even for a narrow path. Villages, which are rarely found, are located high above the river. In this region the Yangtze runs close and parallel to both the Mekong and Salween rivers; all three rivers are within 15 to 30 miles (25 to 50 km) of one another and continue to flow in mutual proximity for a distance of more than 250 miles (400 km).

North of latitude 26° N these great rivers diverge, and the Yangtze turns east to pass through a winding valley with steep slopes. The river receives the waters of many tributaries, among which the Yalong River is the largest and contributes the most water. The Yangtze then widens to between 1,000 and 1,300 feet (300 and 400 metres), reaching depths often exceeding 30 feet (9 metres). In narrower gorges the water width decreases by almost half, but the depth increases sharply. Britannica Stories Scientists Ponder Menopause in Killer Whales Near the end of the upstream part of its course, the Yangtze descends to an elevation of 1,000 feet above sea level. Thus, over the first 1,600 miles (2,600 km) of its length, the river has fallen more than 17,000 feet (5,200 metres), or an average of more than 10 feet per mile (2 metres per km) of its course. In the mountains, however, there is a substantial stretch where the fall of the river is considerably greater.

The middle course All About Asia The middle course of the Yangtze stretches for about 630 miles (1,010 km) between the cities of Yibin in Sichuan province and Yichang in Hubei province. The climate is characterized by hot summers and relatively mild winters, as the high mountains to the west protect the region from the cold north and west winds. Annual precipitation measures between 40 and 60 inches (1,000 to 1,500 mm), a large part of it occurring in summer; the growing season lasts for more than six months. In most of this segment, the river crosses hilly Sichuan province, where the lower mountains and plateaus connect the highlands of southwestern China with the Qin (Tsinling) Mountains lying between the Yangtze and Huang He (Yellow River) basins. Located in this area is Chongqing , a major industrial centre and river port. The river’s width there is from about 1,000 to 1,600 feet (300 to 500 metres), and the depth in places exceeds 30 feet.

The current is swift; the banks often are high and steep. The river falls some 820 feet (250 metres) in Sichuan, more than a foot per mile (0.2 metre per km) of flow. As the Yangtze flows through eastern Sichuan and into western Hubei, it traverses for a distance of 125 miles (200 km) the famous Three Gorges region before debouching onto the plains to the east. The gorges have steep, sheer slopes composed mainly of thick limestone rocks. Prior to the completion of the Three Gorges Dam in 2006, they rose some 1,300 to 2,000 feet (400 to 600 metres) above the river, although with the creation of the reservoir behind the dam their height has been diminished fairly significantly. Nonetheless, they still present the appearance of fantastic towers, pillars, or spears. Qutang, the first gorge—about 5 miles (8 km) long—is the shortest; prior to its inundation, the river there was considered the most dangerous for navigation, being extremely narrow with many rapids and eddies.

Wu, the second gorge, stretches for about 30 miles (50 km); it is a narrow, steep corridor with almost vertical walls of heights up to 1,600 or even 2,000 feet above the river. The last gorge, Xiling, is located upstream of Yichang and extends for a distance of 21 miles; in places limestone cliffs rise directly out of the water, although with the rise of the reservoir to much lower heights than before. The gorges are rocky, and the walls are speckled with cracks, niches , and indentations. Even before the river was inundated, its depth in the gorges was considerable, increasing to between 500 and 600 feet (150 and 180 metres) and giving the Yangtze the greatest depths of any river in the world. Xiling Gorge, in the Three Gorges section of the Yangtze River (Chang Jiang), as it appeared before … © Wolfgang Kaehler Facebook Twitter YouTube Instagram Pinterest The lower part of the Yangtze basin is centred on the extensive lowland plains of east-central China.

The region experiences a temperate climate with warm springs, hot summers, cool autumns, and relatively cold winters for the latitude. Monsoons (seasonally changing winds) dominate the weather of the region, and in the summer and autumn typhoons occur periodically. As the Yangtze exits from the Three Gorges Dam, near Yichang, it enters a complex system of lakes, marshes, and multiple river channels developed on the plains of Hunan and Hubei provinces. This vast region, lying at elevations below 165 feet (50 metres), has served as a natural flood-regulation basin in recent geologic history. Three main tributaries (the Yuan , Xiang , and Han rivers) and many smaller ones join the Yangtze in this region, which also is where the current slows as the river reaches the plain. Water levels fluctuate considerably between the flood and low-flow seasons. In addition, the presence of a number of large lakes, including Dongting Lake and Lakes Hong and Liangzi, also causes considerable fluctuations in water volume. The total area of the lakes, at average water levels, is some 6,600 square miles (17,100 square km).

The lakes are of national economic significance, mainly as fisheries. Britannica Lists & Quizzes Editor Picks: Exploring 10 Types of Basketball Movies At the edge of the Lake Liangzi plain the Yangtze widens markedly, the course of its stream wandering in the form of a large loop. The width of the river is up to 2,600 feet (800 metres), the depth is more than 100 feet (30 metres), and the water current flows at a rate of about 3.5 feet (1 metre) per second. The banks are built up for protection from floods. In the southern part of the plain lies Dongting Lake, which once was the largest freshwater lake in China but now has been reduced in area by silting and land reclamation; it shares four tributaries and two canals with the Yangtze, whose flow it serves to regulate. The surrounding area, agricultural and studded with lakes, is China’s most important rice-producing region. At the centre of the lakes region is the large metropolis of Wuhan .

Situated on the Yangtze near the mouth of the Han River, it was formed in 1950 by the merger of the cities of Hanyang and Hankou on the left bank and Wuchang on the right bank and has become one of China’s most important metallurgical-industry centres and river ports. Farther east the Yangtze flows into a narrowing, picturesque valley and then passes onto the plain of Jiangxi province, which contains Lake Poyang , China’s largest natural freshwater lake. The lake, with an average area of about 1,385 square miles (3,585 square km), receives the Kan River tributary and, in turn, is linked to the Yangtze by a wide tributary. The river then turns to the northeast, passes through a widening valley, and flows out onto the southern North China Plain . The width of the river increases at this point to between 3,000 and 6,000 feet (900 and 1,800 metres), and the depth in places approaches 100 feet. In this region there are a number of large cities, including Anqing , Wuhu , and Nanjing .

The Grand Canal (Da Yunhe), which, with a length of nearly 1,100 miles (1,800 km), is one of the longest canals in the world; it crosses the Yangtze in the vicinity of the city of Zhenjiang . The Yangtze delta Open Door policy The Yangtze delta , which begins beyond Zhenjiang, consists of a large number of branches, tributaries, lakes, ancient riverbeds, and marshes that are connected with the main channel. During major floods the delta area is completely submerged. Lake Tai , with an area of about 930 square miles (2,410 square km), is notable as the largest of the many lakes in the delta. The width of the Yangtze in the delta, as far as the city of Jiangyin, ranges from less than 1 mile to almost 2 miles (1.6 to 3.2 km); farther downstream the channel gradually widens and becomes a large estuary , the width of which exceeds 50 miles (80 km) near the mouth of the river.

Major cities in the delta include Wuxi , Suzhou , and, at the river’s mouth, Shanghai . Before emptying into the sea, the Yangtze divides into two arms that drain independently into the East China Sea. The left branch has a width of about 3 to 6 miles (5 to 10 km), the right branch of 6 to 15 miles (10 to 25 km). Between the branches is situated Chongming Island , which was formed over the centuries by the deposit of alluvium at the mouth of the Yangtze. The depth of the river in places approaches 100 to 130 feet (30 to 40 metres) but decreases to only several feet near the sea at the mouth of the river because of the presence of sandbars. The section of river from the mouth to 250 miles (400 km) upstream is subject to the influence of tides. The maximum range of the tides near the mouth is 13 to 15 feet (4 to 5 metres). The Yangtze delta is rich in mud and silt and is dominated by fluvial and tidal processes.

The present-day bed of the Yangtze in this area is somewhat above the elevation of the plain. Thus, to protect the surrounding region from floodwaters, the banks of the main and other rivers are built up; the total length of banks on the Yangtze on which levees have been constructed is about 1,700 miles (2,740 km). Dams also have been built for flood protection on the shores of several lakes; the Qingjiang Reservoir, for example, built for this purpose near Dongting Lake, has a design capacity of 194 million cubic feet (5.5 million cubic metres). The delta is protected from the sea by two gigantic parallel banks that are faced with stone in most parts. Geology In its upper reaches the Yangtze River drains across the Plateau of Tibet, which is still uplifting as the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates collide. The bedrock comprises an assemblage of marine sedimentary, igneous, and metamorphic rocks. Within intermontane basins, thick deposits of sediments of Cenozoic age—i.e., less than about 65 million years old—overlie the bedrock.

The Yangtze descends abruptly from the Tibetan Plateau to flow across deeply eroded mountain plateaus consisting of Paleozoic and Mesozoic rocks roughly 350 to 150 million years old. In its lower reaches, the Yangtze River flows across basin fills of Cenozoic material that is about 65 to 25 million years old. These are the result of fluvial sedimentation as the Yangtze has migrated across its lower basin throughout its Cenozoic history. Hydrology The Yangtze basin is comparatively well irrigated; the average yearly rainfall amounts to about 43 inches (1,100 mm). Most of the precipitation is brought by the monsoon winds and falls primarily as rain in the summer months. In the mountainous part of the basin the precipitation is mainly snow. Floods , which result from the monsoon rains in the middle and lower parts of the basin, usually begin in March or April and can occur at any time during the next eight months. In May the water level decreases somewhat but then sharply increases again, continuing to rise until August , when it reaches its highest level.

After that the water level gradually falls to the premonsoon levels, the decrease continuing through the autumn and most of the winter until February, when the lowest annual level is reached. The annual range of water-level fluctuations is considerable—an average of about 65 feet (20 metres)—with 26 to 35 feet (8 to 11 metres) during years of low water. Downstream from the Three Gorges Dam the impact of the water-level variation is lessened by the dam itself and by the regulating effect of the lakes. In the delta tides exert the greatest influence on the water level. Near the city of Wusong the daily tidal range is 15 feet (4.5 metres), and the yearly range is 20 feet (6 metres). A breakdown of the water volume delivered to the mouth of the Yangtze shows that the highland part of the basin contributes 10 percent of the flow, while the remainder of the water in the river is contributed by the middle and downstream parts of the basin, with runoff from the basins of Dongting Lake and Lake Poyang being responsible for about two-fifths of the volume. The Yangtze carries a tremendous volume of water.

In the upstream areas the average flow exceeds 70,000 cubic feet (1,980 cubic metres) per second, which is more than the discharge rate of the second longest river in China, the Huang He, at its mouth. After the inflow from the first large tributary—the Yalong River—the volume in the Yangtze increases sharply, approaching an average of 194,000 cubic feet (5,500 cubic metres) per second. Farther downstream the Yangtze admits many tributaries, and the volume gradually increases.

Prior to the completion of the Three Gorges Dam, it reached 529,000 cubic feet (15,000 cubic metres) per second at the end of the Three Gorges area, 847,000 cubic feet (24,000 cubic metres) per second at Wuhan, and some 1,100,000 cubic feet (31,100 cubic metres) per second at its mouth; the total volume entering the sea annually was roughly 235 cubic miles (979 cubic km), ranking it third in volume of flow behind the Amazon and Congo rivers. Those numbers have decreased somewhat since the completion of the dam in 2006. The suspended sediment load at the mouth of the Yangtze is some 478 million tons per year, one of the highest sediment loads of any river in the world. During the seasonal rains the Yangtze widely floods the lower areas, and the maximum volume of water entering the sea can be more than double the average flow. Likewise, the flow decreases during the dry season, sometimes to about one-fourth the average flow.

In spite of the fact that the discharge volume of the Yangtze vastly exceeds that of the Huang He, the Yangtze is significantly less silty than the Huang He. This is because much of the Huang He’s course is over the Loess Plateau with its easily erodible loess (wind-deposited soil), whereas the Yangtze flows over little loess, and its floodplains are more vegetated and less erodible. In the mountainous part of the basin, particularly in the Plateau of Tibet, the waters of the Yangtze contain little silt . Downstream, however, the waters become muddy and acquire a coffee colour. It is estimated that the Yangtze annually carries between 280 million and 300 million tons of alluvium to its mouth, depositing an estimated 150 million to 200 million tons on the river bottom in addition. Thus, the total amount of suspended material carried or deposited is between 430 million and 500 million tons per year, one of the highest sediment loads of any river in the world.

As a result of the depositing of alluvium at the river’s mouth, the delta extends into the sea an average of one mile every hundred years. During the period of monsoon rains, the Yangtze and its tributaries formerly spilled over, creating extensive floods . If the floods in the main channel coincided with flooding in one or more of the major tributaries, powerful, destructive flood waves could result, an occurrence that happened repeatedly in the history of China. One of the major objectives of the Three Gorges project is to control such flooding by the river. When flooding occurs, it frequently results from the deposit of silt in the bed of the Yangtze. Upon leaving the mountains and entering the plain, the current in the Yangtze sharply decreases, and thus the flow cannot continue to carry the entire amount of silt. As a result, a significant portion is deposited in the bed, causing the bottom to rise. A similar situation occurs in many of the Yangtze’s tributaries. Flooding thus presents a great danger to the inhabitants of the adjacent plains. Human adaptation to and utilization of the plains of the Yangtze valley have evolved in the context of such floods.

Among the legends and myths handed down from the earliest historical times are accounts of floods that submerged vast areas. These are said to have turned the plains into inland seas, with water remaining in the lowest places for many years at a time. Catastrophic floods have occurred throughout recorded history. During the period from 206 bce to 1960 ce, China experienced more than 1,030 major floods. Especially extensive flooding has occurred on the Yangtze more than 50 times and on the tributary Han River more than 30 times. On the average, the Yangtze basin has been the scene of catastrophic flooding every 50 to 55 years. Widespread flooding also may take place at shorter intervals. This has been the case since the mid-19th century, as the Yangtze basin has flooded in 1870, 1896, 1931, 1949, and 1954. Of these, the 1931 and 1954 floods were national disasters.

The 1931 flood resulted from heavy, continuous monsoon rains that covered most of the middle and lower parts of the basin. During May and June, six huge flood waves swept down the river, destroying the protecting dams and levees in two dozen places and flooding more than 35,000 square miles (90,000 square km) of land; 40 million people were rendered homeless or otherwise suffered. Many population centres, including Nanjing and the Wuhan conurbation, were underwater. In Wuhan the water remained for more than four months, the depth exceeding 6 feet (1.8 metres) and in places more than 20 feet (6 metres). In the summer of 1954 another powerful flood occurred, again the result of continued monsoon rains. The water level sharply increased and at times exceeded the 1931 flood levels by almost 5 feet (1.5 metres). Effective flood-control measures developed since the 1930s, however, averted many of the potential consequences of the flood.

Page 1 of 2 Mouth of the mighty Yangtze / Observing the Earth / Our Activities / ESA Mouth of the mighty Yangtze Shanghai, China - MERIS - 21 March 2003 25 March 2004 The coloured waters shown here in this 21 March Envisat Medium Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MERIS) image have concluded a long journey across China. They are surging into the East China Sea from the mouth of the Yangtze River, which at 6300 km long is the longest river in Asia and the third longest in the world. Rising in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, the Yangtze River snakes through nine provinces and serves as a drain for 1.8 million square kilometres of territory. MERIS is designed to detect ocean colour, and clearly visible here is how the Yangtze's heavy sediment plume discharges into and colours the waters along the Chinese coast. Its total sediment load is estimated at 680 million tonnes a year – equivalent in weight to a hundred Great Pyramids.

Shanghai - China's largest city - is located south of the Yangtze mouth and the 1000-km-long navigable stretch of the Yangtze west of it is a zone of major economic activity. The downside of recent growth has been a decrease in water quality that the Chinese government say it intends to combat. At the start of the month an accidental chemical spill into a tributary of the Yangtze temporarily deprived almost a million people of drinking water. Rate this Shanghai is located at the mouth of the Yangtze Rever. Today, with a land area covering 6,340 square kilometers and a population of 16 million people, Shanghai has become the largest economic center in China and an important port city. It has maintained a GDP growth rate of over 10 percent in the last 11 years. More than 100 foreign countries and regions have investments in some 30,000 local projects, taking advantage of the 74 deep-water berths and 20 international container piers at the Shanghai Port. The Yangshan International Deep Water Port that is currently under construction is expected to give a modern twist to the port city.

Hongqiao and Pudong International airports link Shanghai with 141 cities in 29 foreign countries and regions everyday. The fluent communications systems and exchanges between people, commodities, capital, technology and information has made Shanghai a vibrant city. Shanghai is also a prominent historical city in China with a rich cultural heritage. The vintage western style buildings on the Bund and the modern Lujiazui Financial Center in Pudong face each other across the Huangpu River. On the other hand, Yuyuan Garden and Longhua Temple display graceful ancient Chinese architecture. In the last few years, various fashion shows, art and cultural festivals have attracted many foreign tourists. The 2010 Shanghai World Expo alone is expected to entertain some 75 million foreign visitors. The shopping malls on Nanjing road, Huaihai Road and in the Xujiahui Business Center showcase the most stylish and chic products in the world, and are filled with people everyday. The government is now working hard to build itself into a jural one serving the people and being responsible for the people. We give top priority to the task of ensuring people's health and safety.

We implement all kinds of policies in line with the laws and regulations, and help many government departments carry out their functions. The people of Shanghai are diligent, intelligent and passionate. We welcome your visits and investments here, to get a better knowledge of today, yesterday and tomorrow's Shanghai. Copyright © 2008 Chinaenglishmedium.com Shanghai is located at the mouth of the Yangtze River, the longest river in China, on the west bank of the East China Sea and in the middle of China's coastline. Through its coastal position Shanghai acts as a link between China’s inland regions and the outside world, and it is comfortable with both eastern and western cultures. With a history of more than 700 years, Shanghai was once the financial center of the Far East. Since the reforms that began in the 1990’s great changes have taken place in the city. The municipal government is working towards building Shanghai into a modern metropolis and a global economic, financial, trading and shipping center by 2020.

Yangtze River Port calls - Yangtze River Guide - Chongqing, Yichang, Wuhan and Shanghai | WindhorseTour.com Chongqing Chongqing is located within southeast China 's Sichuan Province but since 1997 it has been an independent metropolis under the direct jurisdiction of the Central Government. Squeezed along the confluence of the Yangtze River and Jailing River , this famous 'Mountain City' or 'Foggy City' is home to some 6 million people, while approximately 30 million people live in the counties and districts surrounding the old city. Called Yu for short, Chongqing was established some 3000 years ago at the time of the Ba Kingdom. As an inland port it was opened to foreign trade in 1890 and played a key role in the economy of the southwest region. During World War II, it was the provisional capital of China (1938-1945). The Japanese bombed the city heavily and only the long foggy winters saved the city from worse damage. Chongqing or 'Chungkin' was known to most of the world as heavily bombarded yet brave city.

Today Chongqing is an important industrial city and a popular tourist destination. The renowned Three Gorges - one of the natural wonders of the world - are just 20 hours sailing away, so Chongqing is the start or end point for most Yangtze River cruises. The streets are staggered one above the other on the hills that overlook the river, making the city a magnificent sight to behold. The night scene of the city is very charming. Another unique aspect is the absence of bicycles, there's barely a cyclist to be found, as the hill climbs make it coronary country for any would-be rider. Attractions: Dazu Grottoes 163km northwest of Chongqing , it has been listed in World Cultural Heritage in 1999 by UNESCO. The main groupings are at North Hill (Beishan) and Baoding Hill, which date from the Tang Dynasty (9 th century) to the Song (13 th century). People's Assembly Hall The People's Assembly Hall, a large circular building, was built in 1951 and designed in the likenesses of old Ming & Qing architecture. Inside, is a 4000-seat auditorium.

This hall is one of the largest public assembly buildings in China Ci Qi Kou Ancient village Situated on the bank of the Jia Ling River, not far from its confluence with the mighty Yangtze is the ancient village of Ci Qi Kou, formerly known as Long Yin. The history of Ci Qi Kou can be traced back for more than 1700 years. It is because of the importance of the porcelain industry that the name has been changed from Long Yin to Ci Qi Kou which being translated means Porcelain Village. The village was also an important supply post for shipping on the river, a fact that explains why there are so many shops lining the twelve lanes paved with their large flag stones that form the main routes. Here you will find many outlets for craftwork, groceries and the like as well as a horologist, photography supplies, drugstore and a tempting supply of roasted nuts and seeds. As one would expect there are also many teashops and restaurants to cater for the many visitors who come to see something of a way of life that has existed here for so many centuries.

Yichang Known as Yilling in ancient times, Yichang is located at the east mouth of Xiling Gorge, the west ends of Three Gorge - a strategically important passage between Sichuan and Hubei provinces. It serves as a major transit port along the middle reaches of Yangtze River . Situated as it is on the intersection of the upper and middle reaches of the Yangtze River , Yichang has a number of scenic and historical sites. Local produce is seedless orange, much exported to Japan and Southeast Asia . Terra cotta wares, mushroom, black tea, garden plants and decorations, are among those renowned local specialties. The shiplock in Gezhouba Dam is the border between the Three Gorges and the middle reaches of Yangtze River . The world famous Three Gorges Dam is just 30 km away from the city. Along with the progress of the Three Gorges Project, Yichang will increase in importance as an industrial city and as a tourist center. In the city, the Three Gorges Dam model and the Chinese Sturgeon Aquarium & Research Institute are the haunts of the tourists.

Three Travelers Cave overlooks the Nanjin Pass of the Yangtze magnificent scenery of the Xiling Gorge. Attractions: Chinese Sturgeon Aquarium Located in Shuixita Town , Yichang City , the Chinese Sturgeon Aquarium is part of the Chinese Sturgeon Institution of China. The Chinese Sturgeon is an animal strictly protected by Chinese government. It has a history of 140 million years, almost the same as dinosaur. That is why it is called 'living fossil'. A grownup sturgeon measures up to 4 meters long, weighs over 1000 pound, ranking the biggest of all the 27 sturgeons in the world and biggest animal in the Yangtze River . Wuhan Wuhan was the only city on the Yangtze River that can truly be said to lie on both sides of the river. It is one of the most populous cities in China with a population of more than 7.3 million. Its strategic location makes it a major junction of transportation and communications in central China , the city has long been referred as 'the Thoroughfare to Nine Provinces'.

The city has a history of 3500 years and once was the center of ' Chu ' culture, left behind itself a lot of historical and cultural relics. Numerous natural and historical attractions are scattered around. Yellow Crane Tower, Guiyuan Temple , East Lake, Yangtze River Bridge , Hubei Provincial Museum, and Ancient Music Pavilion among those where the visitors want to go. Attractions: Yellow Crane Tower Yellow Crane Tower, located on Snake Hill in Wuchang, is one of the 'Three Famous Towers South of Yangtze River (the other two: Yueyang Tower in Hunan and Tengwang Tower in Jiangxi ). The existing tower was rebuilt in 1981 and opened to the public in June 1985. It is a symbol of the Wuhan City . According to records, the tower was first built in 223 A .D during the Three Kingdoms period (220-280). Destroyed many times in successive dynasties, the tower was rebuilt time and again East Lake & Hubei Provincial Museum It is the city's most popular tourist site, with 2 million visitors each year.

Located in the eastern suburbs of Wuhan , the East Lake is the biggest lake in a city within China and one of the major tourist attractions in Wuhan . With surrounding park, it occupies an area of 88 sq. km including water area of 33 km . The scenery around the lake is lovely, including flowers and willow trees as well as pavilions and terraces. A ride in one of the tour boats is a tranquil experience. The Hubei Provincial Museum established in 1953 contains the most important collections of artifacts in the province. More than 140,000 items, mainly from a big tomb excavated in 1978, are well preserved here, including 645 first class cultural relics and 16 national treasures. Shanghai Shanghai China, a municipality directly under the Central Government, is one of the largest commercial city and economic center of China . It's a coastal opening city as well as a famous historic and cultural one. Situated 31.4 degrees north latitude and 121.29 degrees east longitude, Shanghai lies in the middle of China 's mainland coastline, and Yangtze River's entrance to the sea.

Covering an area of 6,341 square km. and with a population of more than 13.5 million, it is the largest city in China and one of the five super cities of the world. Shanghai is also one of ten world's largest seaports. The Pudong Development Area in Shanghai is a newly-booming economic zone in China . The level of the new area's industry, commerce, finance, trade, post and telecommunications stands at the forefront in China . More than 130 buildings there are higher than a hundred meters. Attractions: Yu Garden Yu Garden is located at the heart of Old Town , a few blocks southwest of the Bund in downtown Shanghai . It is one of China 's loveliest private classical gardens. Its name means Garden of Contentment , and it is indeed a pastoral world apart from modern and hectic Shanghai . Its construction was first completed in 1577. Occupying just 2 hectares (5 acres), it nevertheless seems as expansive as a small town, with room for 30 pavilions.

The Bund The Bund (which means the Embankment) refers to Shanghai 's famous waterfront running along the west shore of the Huangpu River , forming the eastern boundary of old downtown Shanghai . Today it consists of a marvelous promenade, stretching from Suzhou Creek in the north to Jinling Lu in the south, the perfect platform for strolling along the busy river. Just across the wide avenue (Zhongshan Dong Yi Lu) that parallels the promenade is Shanghai 's signature cityscape, a long wall of colonial-era European buildings erected by foreign governments, trading houses, and expatriate millionaires mostly during the prosperous and notorious 1920s and 1930s. On the other side of the river, casting the shadow of Shanghai's future over its colonial past, are the modern towers of the city's remarkable economic boom: the skyscrapers of the Pudong New Area that include some of Asia's and the world's tallest structures, the high-tech pagodas of the 21st century.

Shanghai Museum Newly relocated from west Shanghai , this modern museum tells the story of Shanghai , with special attention to the colonial period from 1860 to 1949, when Shanghai was under European dominance. Over 1,000 relics, mostly from the past 200 years, are housed here. Exhibits include a vehicle collection with trolley cars (the city line opened in 1908), 1920s sedans, a U.S. Jeep (popular after World War II), and cars manufactured recently by VW and Buick in Shanghai; dioramas of the Huangpu River, Bund, and foreign concessions, evoking the street life of the 19th and early 20th centuries; and dozens of models of Shanghai's classic avenues and famous buildings. The museum tour takes about an hour; it ends at an unremarkable gift shop. Jade Buddha Temple Shanghai's most popular temple with visitors, the Jade Buddha complex has an exceedingly short history, having been completed in 1918, but it exudes a powerful potion of thick incense, flashy decorations, and a dark, seedy atmosphere that makes it seem centuries older.

The White Jade Buddha, located up a narrow set of old stairs on the second floor of Wentang Hall, is the true treasure. Carved in Burma and brought to Shanghai in 1881 by Huigeng, a Chinese pilgrim, it is twice life-size (weighing 205kg / 455 lb . and measuring 2m / 6 ft . 7 in . tall in seated position). In another special pavilion there is a Sleeping Buddha, also carved from a single slab of Burmese jade and brought to Shanghai by the same benefactor. Related Tours

Question: Which port is situated at the mouth of the Yangtze River?
Answer: SHANGHAI